Discussion on ‘Honour Killing’...

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t was a bravura chance for the students and facalty of Centre of Media Studies to thrash out, an important transgression “Honour Killing”. An honour killing is the murder of a family or clan member by one or more fellow family members, in which the perpetrators believe the victim to have brought dishonour upon the family, clan, or community. Honour killing is different from the dowry deaths that are prevalent in India.The film show on ‘Khap’ a movie followed by interactive session and panel discussion was organized in the collaboration of Centre of Media Studies, Institute of Professional Studies, University of Allahabad and Human Rights Law Network. The superb panel had Advocate K.K Roy, Ex-Registrar of High Court Pancham Rai and Social Activist Padma Singh. The convener of the event was Dhananjai Chopra, Course Coordinator of Centre of Media Studies, Institute of Professional Studies, University of Allahabad and Intern of Human Rights Law Network Agrima Dubey.

The evening started with opening address by Dhananjai Chopra Course Coordinator of Centre of Media Studies and Agrima Dubey student of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala. After that the presentation of ‘khap’ recently released bollywood movie commenced which showed that administration and Khap Panchyat both act as a pool resources to murder youngsters if they marry to their own choice. To be young and in love has proved deadly for many young girls and boys in parts of  India where Khap has influence, as an intolerant and bigoted society refuses to accept any violation of its rigid code of decorum, especially when it comes to women.

Subsequent to this the question-answer session started numerous queries were put to the panel inquiring- Why there is no separate law for this crime? What are the other causes for this crime other than love marriage? How youngsters can try to create awareness against this crime? And why this crime is present etc…Answering the questions Mr. Roy and Mr Pancham articulated that there is need of a specific law. And this offense is ghastly for our society seeing as it is damaging the freedom of the youth to come to a decision of their own future. The two teenage girls who were shot dead in June 2010 by a cousin in Noida for daring to run away to meet their boyfriends are the latest victims of honour killings, a euphemism for doing away with anyone seen as spoiling the family’s reputation. Many such killings are happening with regularity in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. These are socially sanctioned by caste panchayats and carried out by mobs with the connivance of family members.

Social Activist Padma Singh focused that there is an instantaneous need for sex education and parents should themselves take an initiative to educate their own kids about sex. And Honour Killing is awful for the state. She also articulated that there is a need for introspection. And youngsters should work to create awareness on their frontage. In 1990, the National Commission for Women set up a statutory body in order to address the issues of honour killings among some ethnic groups in North India. This body reviewed constitutional, legal and other provisions as well as challenges women face. The NCW’s activism has contributed significantly towards the reduction of honour killings in rural areas of North India.

The show ended with end words by Dhananjai Chopra, Course Coordinator of Centre of Media Studies, Institute of Professional Studies, University of Allahabad expressing gratitude to everyone for excellent discussion.  

Prateek Pathak

Student

B.A in Media Studies

University of Allahabad